Fire-escape.



0. FL DAVY.

FIRE ESCAPE. APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 28, 1910. 1,066,? 1 6. Pat nted July 8, 1913.

2 2 SHEET8BHEET l. 1 3 57-1 CD .5 5 Fig/Z VV/TNESSES M MA A5 WITNESSES G. P. DAVY.

FIRE ESCAPE. APPLIUATION IILED MAR. 2a, 1910.

Patented July 8, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Arramvzsv when the device is not in use. The brake ring 16 is split or divided at -17 and portions thereof at opposite sides of the division are provided with radially projecting ears 18 to which are pivoted circumferentially extending levers "19*. The inner or shorter arms of these levers are pivoted at 20- to each other, while their opposite longer arms extend in opposite directions and are adapted to rest against bearing faces 21 on a centrifugal operated member -22'.

The brake band is coaxial with the pulley or sheave 8 and collar l t and is adapted to be rotated around the brake drum or flange -15- and for this purpose is provided with radially arojecting lugs or cars 23- spaced apart to form an intervening groove or slot 24- for receiving an axially projecting lug 25 on the rotary collar 1l, so that as the collar is rotated in either direction similar motion is imparted to the brake band -16.

It will be observed that the lug 25- engages the brake hand some distance from its axis and at one side only which tends to move the brake band eccentrically against the drum and thereby producing more or less friction and consequent retardation of the free rotary action of the collar 14 on its actuating mechanism. The main retarding action, however, is brought about by the centrifugal operating member -22 operating to compress the brake band 16- upon the drum 15- through the medium of the levers -19 and for this purpose the centrifugal member -22 is mounted for rotary and radial movement relatively to the axis of the shaft 9- with the excess of predominance of weight eccentric to or at one side of said axis.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 3, 5 and 6, the centrifugal member 22- is furcated at one end forming an open ended slot 26- the opposite sides of which are guided in lengthwise grooves or ways 27 in the sides of the collar l%. The weighted member 22- is therefore locked for rotary movement with the collar -14: around the shaft or spindle 9 and is also movable radially by centrifugal force along the guide ways 27, thereby pressing the bearing faces --21 against the outer ends of the longer arms of the levers 19 and causing the compression of the brake band -16- upon the brake drum 15 the force of compression depending upon the radial centrifugal movement of the member 22 which movement is dependent upon the speed of rotation of the pulley or sheave 8 and intervening transmitting mecha nism between said pulley and collar.

In the particular construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the speed of the collar -14 and centrifugal member -22- actuated thereby are multiplied over that of the pulley 8 by the intermediate train of gears 6, 12 and 13, but in some instances these multiplying gears and also the collar '14tmay be dispensed with and the orake band rotated directly from the pulley as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. In this latter modification the pulley or sheave 8- is provided eccentrically with an axially projecting lug or shoulder -25- projecting between the lugs or ears 23- on the brake band 16*, said pulley being provided with a hub 14 having guide grooves or ways 27 for the reception and guiding of the furcated end of the centrifugal operating member 22, the latter being substanlially the same as that shown in Fig. 6.

Aside from the omission of the multiplying gears 6, 12 and -13- and separate collar l4:' and that the brake band 16- is rotated directly from the pulley or sheave 8 and that the centrifugal member 22 is guided directly upon and rotated by said pulley, the structure and operation shown in Figs. 7', 8 and 9 is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive. In both of these constructions a cable 30- is wrapped or passed around the greater portion of the grooved sheave 8 and guided in suitable ways -31- on the lower portion of the main supporting frame or base 1-, said ways -31 being located in substan tially the same plane as the pulley or sheave and close together so as to produce a maximum lap of the cable upon the pulley. This cable is made of fire proof material consisting of a central series of wire strands and an outer casing or jacket of more flexible fire proof material. It will be observed that this apparatus is designed for operation in either direction and that either side of the cable may be used to lower the individual to a place of safety from the upper story of the building. It will also be observed that while one side of the cable may be in use by one or more persons, the other side is being drawn up ready for use by another person, thereby doubling the capacity of the apparatus and making it possible to lower a large number of persons by the same device in a comparatively short time in the case of emergency.

In practice one end of the cable is drawn up into position for use at the story where the device is located, while the other end of the cable is usually coiled up around a suitable reel and is supported from the frame 1 or any other suitable support, and in case of fire or other emergency requiring the use of the device it is simply necessary to drop the reel out of the window or other exit to the ground below whereupon the person or persons desiring escape may fasten themselves by a belt or otherwise to the short end of the cable and simply step out of the exit to the outside of the building whereupon the device will automatically establish a safe speed of descent and at the same time the longer end of the cable will be drawn up to the same story ready for use by an other person.

WVhen the fire escape is in use, the member -22- is moved radially by centrifugal force due to its rotation thereby pressing the bearing faces 21 against the outer ends of the levers 19 which operate to compress the split brake ring -16 upon the brake drum -15- from a point midway between the ends of the ring gradually toward said ends so as to cause frictionalcontact be tween all points of the brake ring and brake drum. As soon as the Weight upon the end of the cable is relieved, thereby stopping the rotation of the pulley or sheave 8 and brake band 16--, the latter immediately automatically opens and releases itself by its tension with the brake drum -15- thus returning the levers 19- and centrifugal 22- to their normal starting positions ready for a repetition of the operation previously described.

hat I claim is:

1. In a fire escape, a brake drum, a revoluble brake band surrounding the drum and divided through one side only, a radially movable centrifugally operated member rotating with the brake band and provided with shoulders at opposite sides of the divisions in the brake band, levers pivoted to each other and to the meeting ends of the brake band and provided with oppositely projecting arms engaged with said shoulders, and cable operated means for rotating the b 'ake band and centrifugally operated member.

2. In a fire escape of the class described, a casing having a non-rotatable brake drum,

a coacting brake band surrounding said drum and divided through one side only, levers pivoted to the brake band at opposite sides of the division and operatively engaged with each other, a weighted member rotatable about the axis of the drum and brake band and having an independent centrifugal radial movement, said member having operative connection with the levers on the brake band to compress said band upon the drum with a gradually increasing pressure as the speed of rotation of said member increases, a cable and cable operated means for rotating said member and brakeband.

3. In a fire escape of the class described, a casing having a non-rotatable brake drum, a rotary brake band surrounding the drum and divided through one side only, the opposite side having a pair of outwardly projecting lugs spaced apart, ears on the brake band at opposite sides of the division, levers pivoted to said cars and to each other, a rotary collar coaxial with the drum and brake band and provided with a radially projecting arm having a lateral otl'set between said lugs to cause the brake band to rotate with the collar, a weighted member in radially sliding interlocking engagement with the collar to rotate therewith and to move radially by centrifugal force, said weighted member being operatively connected to the levers to compress the band on the drum as the weighted member is moved by centrifugal force away from the axis, and cable operated means for rotating the collar.

Tn witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 19th day of March 1.910.

CHARLES F. DAVY. i tnesses H. E. hiasn, A. L. HUMrnnm'.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

